Depilating process.



UNITE STATES CHARLES BURKIIALTER, OF HOSENSACK, PENNfiYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID S. KERN AND CHARLES M. REED, OF PENNSBURG, PENNSYL- VANIA, AND IVILLIAM I-I. DESI-ILER, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEPILATING PROCESS.

SPECZEICATZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,357, dated December 31, 19 1.

Application filed July 16, 1901. Serial No. 68,532. ('a'pecimeus.)

To all 1071 0711, it may concern.-

Be it'known that 1, CHARLES BURKHALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hosensack, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Depilating Process, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the method or process of depilating hides, and has for its objects to effect a saving of labor and material, to efiect a perfect depilating within a comparatively short time, and to produce a leather that will exceed that produced under the ordinary processes in appearance, grain, durability, and pliabilit-y.

The process of depilating and tanning usually followed consists in the following steps: First, the skin, fresh from slaughteror otherwise, is placed into cold water for forty-eight hours, more orless, to drawout the blood, salt, or other matter; second, the skin is partly fleshed and put to soak in a solution of lime, in which it is kept for about five days, after which it is placed in cold water to draw out the lime; third, the skin is completely fleshed; fourth, the skin is subjected to the action of a bate for about seventy-five days and afterward is placed in a second and fresh bate for another seventy-five days; fifth, the skin is placed in cold water to remove the impurities,and, sixth, the skin is now placed into a tan liquor of from 10 to 12, in which it is kept until it is fully tanned, taking about nine months to produce a tanned sole-leather of first-class quality. This process is slow and expensive, involving a large amount of hard'and disagreeable labor, and the leather becomes hard and brittle.

In carrying my invention into effect I dispense altogether with the bate solutions and reduce the time spent in the tan liquor and the expense and labor attached to the usual process and at the same time produce a tanned leather of superior quality and appearance.

In the process forming the subject of my invention I proceed as follows: First, the skin is placed in cold water for a period of ninetysix hours, more or less, to draw out the blood and salt; second, the skin is placed in limewater at a temperature of about Fahrenheit, the temperature being gradually raised to 80 Fahrenheit. In this heated solution the skin is agitated for twelve hours. The temperature is now reduced very gradually until the solution grows quite cold, the skin being permitted to remain in soak for about four days longer; third, the skin is now haired and fleshed; fourth,the skin is placed into cold clean water, where it is thoroughly washed and worked to remove all the lime and other impurities; fifth, the skin is placed on the working beam and finally cleaned and prepared for the tanning liquor, and, sixth, the skin is now placed into a tan liquor of from 35 to barkometer, in which it remains until finished.

The skins may be agitated, washed, and scrubbed by machinery at various stages in the process, and hot water may be employed -to assist in the removal of impurities.

In actual practice it is found that the total time required under this process to tan sole or heavy leather in the most perfect manner is from twent -one to thirty days, the time varying in accordance with the skin to be tanned, While a calf-skin may be perfectly tanned in from ten to fifteen days. This time may be materially reduced in some cases, as perfectly tanned sole-leather has been produced under this process in twelve to fifteen days.

In the second step of the process as herein described all traces of the glue, oil, acids, and other impurities are thoroughly removed. The importance of this step is evident, as the hide is prepared more effectually for subjection to the tanning agent and renders it more capable of receiving a larger quantity of grease, whereby the resultant leather is rendered plump and pliable, of finer texture and appearance, and of increased durability.

The advantages gained by the employment of this new process are numerous. Not only are the time and expense materially reduced, but the disagreeable labor incident to the bate treatment is dispensed with. The hides are prepared for the reception of a quantity of grease approximately double that which the same hides will receive under the old processes and do not become hard and hrittle, but more pliable and durable and of better grain, finish, and appearance than any hides now produced under theold processes.

In actually tanning I find in practice that the employment of atanningsolution of high degree produces much better results and in less time than where asolution of low degree is employed, as underthe usual practice.

The temperature of the lime solution may be increased to some extent, depending on the hides under treatment; but in all cases the reduction of temperature'should be gradual and extend over a comparatively long space of time.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. That improvement in the process of depilating which consists in subjecting the hides to the action of a solution of lime, gradually heating said solution, and then permitting said solution to gradually cool over a long priod of time.

2. Thatimprovementin the process of depilating hides which consists in subjecting the hides to a solution of lime, gradually heating said solution, agitating the hides therein,

CHARLES BURKHALTER.

Witnesses:

LILLIE I-IILLEGASS, EUGENE W. SCHOLL. 

